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Masaya Nakamura
1925 - 2017
Masaya Nakamura
1925 - 2017
Obituary
Guest Book
BORN
1925
DIED
2017
Masaya Nakamura Obituary
The death was announced this week by Bandai Namco, the Japanese video game company. At the request of Nakamura, news of his death was withheld until after the conclusion of his private wake and funeral.
The arcade game Pac-Man, which Namco developed and released in 1980, became a smash hit among video game enthusiasts. It also became a pop culture phenomenon of the 1980s, spawning other products that feature the video game's characters as well as the "Pac-Man" animated TV series and the top-10 hit single "Pac-Man Fever."
The tremendous success of the video game surprised Nakamura, according to his interview at the Pac-Man Museum's website.
"I never thought it would be this big," he said. "You know baseball? Well, I knew it would not be a single. But I thought maybe a double, not a home run."
Nakamura's translator, Hideuki Nakajina, praised his boss in an interview as a business owner who has the customer foremost in mind.
"He's oriented to the player feelings," Nakajina said, "unlike some in the industry who care only for the profitability. So he personally tests games to make sure they are something a player will like."
After testing the video game, he gave his approval but had trouble coming up with a name for it. "The idea is to eat the monsters," Nakajina said, "so he wanted to use the Japanese equivalent of 'munch, munch,' which is 'paku, paku.' But it didn't sound English, the international language, so he wanted to use 'puck, puck' instead."
The phrase soon morphed into Puck-Man, the Japanese version of the arcade game, and Pac-Man everywhere else.
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With 10 billion plays and counting, the Guinness World Records organization named Pac-Man the world's most successful coin-operated arcade game in 2008. Guinness also gave the game's creator, Toru Iwatani, a certificate declaring that Pac-Man had the most coin-operated arcade machines installed worldwide with 293,822.
Nakamura was born Dec. 24, 1925. He graduated from Yokohama National University in 1948 and established Nakamura Manufacturing in 1955; the company is now known as Bandai Namco Entertainment. Nakamura Manufacturing was renamed Namco in 1977. Nakamura became Namco's president in 2002. Three years later, he was named the senior adviser of Bandai Namco Holdings.
59 Entries
DOMO ARIGATO, MASAYA NAKAMURA.
Star Punk
October 17, 2018
Domo Arigato.
Love and Peace.
James Heine
October 17, 2018
I remember when Pac-Man first came out and I got so much thrill from it and the subsequent games related , incl. Mrs. Pac-Man, Professor Pac-Man, Super Pac-Man, Pac-Man 3D and all the great cultural phenomena that came with it. Masaya's creations and franchise gave so much joy to me, my generation and beyond. I even recall fondly that novelty Top 10 hit by Buckner and Garcia celebrating the original game. Pac-Man paved the way for many more thrilling video games to come, it helped kick-start a revolution in entertainment. Not only that but while I was taking courses to get my college degree in computer and information science, the templates, principals and ideals of Pac-Man were being already utilized in programming, coding and artificial intelligence classes. Yes, Masaya Nakamura - you have enriched so many lives and brought such great joy and good cheer to millions, maybe billions of people, including myself. You have done so much in so many fields and are such an icon and hero of the 20th century. I give you a 21-gun salute in honor to you - The Father of Pac-Man. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! DOMO ARIGATO, MASAYA NAKAMURA. Rest In Peace in the Love and Mercy of God. Your legacy will last forever.
Rose Duodu
February 8, 2017
The family and friends of Masaya Nakamura have my deepest and sincere condolences for their loss. May you have peace and comfort from God.
Lily Wu
February 6, 2017
I remember playing this game as a little girl and it was a very exciting and heart pounding game of catch. What a remarkable and creative mind. A world free from the infirmities of old age is coming to fruition soon. Job 33:25
How you can show support
Mimi
February 6, 2017
so this was the Man who did Pacific Man my Young Sister not too long ago made the bell rang & won in Pacific Man game wow every one young Children there Parents came too see Mia won. It was fun. I never was a Wiz like she was.
Corey Wilson
February 6, 2017
Brilliant, Genuis, excellent... need I say more. Pacman is one of the best video games ever. Mrs. Pacman is my all time favorite. Thank you Mr. Masaya Nakamura for all your hard work and ideas.My prayers are with his family. A holy book promises that soon all sickness,suffering and death will be gone forever.At that time we will never have to say goodbye to a loved one again.In the meantime may the peace of God guard your heart. My condolences.
February 6, 2017
Please accept my condolences on the loss of your love one.
February 4, 2017
I am so sorry for your loss. May the God of all comfort strengthen you during this difficult time.
Bob
February 4, 2017
I send my condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Masaya Nakamura, what a talent man, Pac Man was the all time Video games that opened the doors to what's in place today.... May you all find these words to be a joyous memory.
May God love you, bless you, and comfort you all.
Valenda Newell
February 2, 2017
Wishing family peace to bring comfort & courage to face the days ahead & loving memories to forever hold in your hearts..PRAYERS and BLESSINGS
T C
February 2, 2017
My condolences to the Nakamura family for the loss of Masaya. May God's Word strengthen you during this difficult time. (Isa. 41:10,13)
Ethan Murdock
February 1, 2017
I may not have played much of Pac-Man, but mister Nakamura, you were a big impact in video game history, and I salute you for that. May you beat you high score on the great big Arcade Machine in the sky
Autumn Koger
February 1, 2017
You were a great man! May you rest in peace now!
Cordarius Washington
February 1, 2017
I may not have been very good at your game but it brought me and many others enjoyment ,thanks you and may your soul rest in peace
Manuel A.
February 1, 2017
I thank you, Mr. Nakamura, on behalf of God through Jesus Christ, for the joy you have brought to millions of people and families like mine all over the earth through your ceative imagination. I give thanks to all of those in the world, beloved of God, whom leave spiritual gifts imparted by God through their faith in Jesus Christ, unto Mister Nakamura and his family. May you all find peace in these words of comfort from God the Most High, and may our faith be heard and spoken of in all parts of the world. You are all in my prayers.
Lily Wu
February 1, 2017
What a remarkable inventions n that has made young people satisfied and happy. May it comfort all to know that death and suffering will be removed forever. Isaiah 33.24
February 1, 2017
I am sorry for your loss. May prayer comfort you.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."
Grady Youngblood
February 1, 2017
Masaya Nakamura Creator of
Pac-man Video Games.
M C
February 1, 2017
I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the family for their loss of a talented man. May you find comfort and help in God during this time of sorrow.(Psalms 86:17)
Kimberly Johnson
January 31, 2017
GB
January 31, 2017
I extend my heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of Mr. Nakamura. May the God of all comfort be with you during this difficult moment as you remember all the wonderful moments spent together.
H R
January 31, 2017
Condolences to the Nakamura family, may God comfort you during your time of loss.
Hall
January 31, 2017
Sorry for the loss of your love one may you draw close to God of all comfort as you endure this difficult time
David and Jacob Gamer
January 31, 2017
We were all blessed by the way he chomped into our lives, ever greatful.
ARL
January 31, 2017
I am so sorry to learn about the passing of Mr Masaya Nakamura. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends. May God's word found in Hosea 13:14 be of comfort and peace in this time of grief.
Karen W
January 31, 2017
Very sorry to hear of Mr. Nakamura's passing. To the family - please know how much joy your loved one has given to the world with Pac-Man!
R. C.
January 31, 2017
To The Family Of Masaya Nakamura
My condolences to the family during this time of such great sorrow. My hope is that you find comfort in knowing that Almighty God is close to those brokenhearted.
Mary Wilson
January 31, 2017
My condolences go out to the family and friends of masque Naka,he truly will be missed by many. A very gifted person I remembered my children playing pacman forever,they couldn't stop plying.May the family find comfort in God word and peace (2Cornithians1:3,4);
January 31, 2017
I am sorry for the loss of such a genius person. It is good to know that this life is not all there is. John 3:16
January 31, 2017
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
C L
January 31, 2017
What a long and wonderful life! May Masaya Nakamura forever live in our hearts and in God's book of life.
January 31, 2017
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
R D
January 31, 2017
May the God all comfort be with you during this difficult time. 2 Con. 1:3,4
DH
January 31, 2017
My sincere condolences to the family
and friend's of Mr.Nakamura.
He will live on in history with his
invention of the Pac-Man game,how
the world loved to play that game.
May the family find comfort from all
the wonder expression of condolences
from people all around the world and
from the words Jesus spoke at John 6:44.
D Black
January 31, 2017
During this sorrowful time, words can't express the depth of the pain you are feeling. My hope is that God will bring you a measure of comfort and peace, as you recall all the wonderful memories you have of your dear love one. God promises at Hosea 14:14, to one day empty the graves, I believe in this promise, and pray that you may be strengthened by this hope!
Tina
January 30, 2017
Knowing that your hearts are heavy with grief over the loss of Mr.Nakamura,I want to remind you to reflect on the promise of Almighty God to rid the earth of sickness,sorrow, and death. Please draw closer to God and allow him to soothe you.Psalms71:20
January 30, 2017
So sad about your loss. Mr. Nakamura will was a genius to create that game he will be missed sadly. May God strengthens his loved ones in their time of needs.
Ypsilanti, Michigan
V A
January 30, 2017
Sending Condolences to the Nakamura Family: The invention of the Pac Man was truly a big success in the 80's. I hope you can find comfort knowing that the God of tender mercies will comfort you in all your trials. And he promises no more sickness or death.
January 30, 2017
I am so sorry for your loss. May Almighty God who "binds up the brokenhearted" and "comforts all who mourn" sustain your family during this challenging time. (Isaiah 61:1,2) With heart felt sympathy to you and your family.
LR, VA
January 30, 2017
I am truly sorry for your loss. May the God of comfort give you strength during this difficult time. Psalms 29:11
January 30, 2017
Love playing Pac Man. It's a classic. I want to offer my condolence at is time. May God grant you strength. Psalms 46:1
Ky
January 30, 2017
Please accept my condolences. Know that the God of comfort feels your pain and sorrow. Isaiah 61:1,2 reads: "He sent me (Jesus Christ) to bind up the brokenhearted, ... and To comfort all who mourn, ..."
D Tyler
January 30, 2017
Pac Man truly was a fun game to play, everyone fell in luv with the little eating mouth and face. Sincere condolences to the Nakamura family. Pray constantly. 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
Mark Jeroen Heek
January 30, 2017
you have been a blessing for this world. It was apparently time to move over to the next level. thank you for everything.
January 30, 2017
My condolences to the Nakamura family for your loss. Please take comfort in knowing that the most high will awaken those asleep in death, to life in peaceful perfect conditions. Please consider the scripture at Isaiah 55:11
January 30, 2017
May it comfort you to know that God as well as others care about your loss.
Sincerely
Adrian Barnette
January 30, 2017
We'll miss you !
January 30, 2017
I know he will be truly missed! I spend much of my youth plying his games. They still being pleasure to many, including me. May we all rely on each other and on God to get us through this difficult time.
michelle plakas-kaiser
January 30, 2017
RIP
January 30, 2017
What a privilege for the family to have shared so many wonderful memories with Masaya during his lifetime!-Psalms 90:10
Scott Chamberland
January 30, 2017
Rest in Peace
Cheryl Landin
January 30, 2017
I love Pac-Man and Mrs. Pac-Man
RIP!!!!
CC.
January 30, 2017
My thoughts and prayers are with the NAKAMURA FAMILY in their time of grief. With heartfelt sympathy, may 'God' give you comfort at this most difficult.
January 30, 2017
A great game - pacman. Brings back memories. May God comfort you during this difficult time ( John 11 : 25 ).
Joseph Hilton
January 30, 2017
Pac-Man is very, very, very good to me. I use to spend hundreds of dollars on the game each month when I was a teenager. Rest in peace Mr. Pac-Man founder/inventor.
Laura
January 30, 2017
Mr. Nakamura was such a creative genius amd i still play pacman to this day. My condolences to the family. I know the greif right now is heavy may find encouragement from God. (Jeremiah 29:11)
January 30, 2017
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
January 30, 2017
Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.
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